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Monthly Archives: December 2011

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one …….

Dillsburg Pickle Drop

Those words will be spoken out loud all over the word in a few days as the last seconds of 2011 come to pass. And if you are at one of the dozens of gatherings through-out the country, you will get to see some item drop to welcome in the New Year. There are several of these celebrations right here in Pennsylvania, which according to Wikipedia leads the nation in dropping inanimate objects on New Years Eve. The citizens of the Commonwealth are a bit quirky. Right here in central Pennsylvania, we drop everything from the Huckleberry in New Bloomfield, a cow in Blain, a pickle in Dillsburg, a strawberry in Harrisburg, a Hershey Kiss in Hershey, a full size sprint car in Port Royal, a wrench in Mechanicsburg, an over-sized lighting glider sled in Duncannon, to the giant M&M dropped at midnight UTC (coordinated universal time) in Elizabethtown to correspond with midnight in sister city Letterkenny in Ireland. However our favorite thing dropped is right here in our back yard, a giant bag of Hartley’s Potato Chips in Lewistown.

With so many things to go watch fall on New Years Eve, why stay at home. Maybe the staff here at Lerch RV should start dropping an RV to welcome in the New Year. Unfortunately that would be a major undertaking. I believe it would be easier to just watch our low prices drop even lower. So in honor of the New Year, beginning January 12-14 and continuing January 19-21, we will have our 35th Anniversary Winter Sale. So mark those calendars and if you are not too tired of watching things drop on New Years Eve, come visit us here in Milroy. And allow us to help you find that new or pre-owned camper for the new year.

A study prepared for RVIA by PKF Consulting USA found a family of four that owns an RV can take an RV trip for 23 percent to 59 percent less than other types of vacations. For a couple traveling by RV, savings were 11 percent to 46 percent. Even after accounting for factors such as RV ownership costs and fuel prices, the study confirms that RV vacations offer greater savings than vacations taken by car or airline and requiring hotel/rental stays and restaurant meals.

PKF analyzed vacation costs to nine popular destinations for a family of four and a party of two adults and included different types of RVs and varying vacation durations. It also analyzed how theoretical increases in fuel prices could affect vacation travel costs.

RV vacations proved more economical than the other vacations, regardless of trip duration, distance, or vacation region, said PKF vice president Kannan Sankaran. “While fuel costs are a component of the overall vacation cost, they are not significant enough to materially affect the outcome of our analysis.” So fuel costs are not really a factor to most family vacations.

Since Christmas is almost upon us, I wanted to share with my readers a special winter treat. In Hershey, PA a winter wonderland awaits at Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular. Enjoy nearly 600 illuminated, animated displays from the comfort of your car as you drive through two miles of wooded trails. Families return year after year for this holiday tradition. Admission is charged unfortunately, however the slow drive through the awe-inspiring light display is worth it. Below you can find the Sweet Lights hours of operation and the admission charge. This wonderful holiday light display will put a smile on face and bring out the kid in everyone. You can even view them from the comfort of your RV!

The spirit of the holidays in Hershey glows brighter than ever with Hershey Sweet Lights!

RV company to grow, add workers

Open Range RV Company and the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation are excited to announce the expansion of Open Range RV Company at its facilities located in Shipshewana, IN.

Open Range RV Company, founded in Shipshewana in 2007, has quickly grown to become a leader in the production of high quality fifth wheels and travel trailers, and has been recognized multiple times with the “Quality Circle Award” by the RV Dealers Association. Open Range RV’s lines are recognized industry wide for their quality, innovative floor designs, amenities, and low weight amongst many other features. “The continued demand for Open Range’s recreational vehicles has spurred our growth over the past few years” said Randy Graber, President of Open Range RV Company. “We are thrilled that our customers continue to appreciate the high quality and wide range of towable RV’s that we produce, and this growth really can be attributed to their dedication to our brand.”

The company plans to add a 21,500(-square-foot) addition to their main campus located on the north side of Shipshewana, as well as adding new equipment to the facility, including a new CNC router. These investments will allow Open Range RV to operate more efficiently and produce an even better quality product for their customers. The project will also result in the addition of 10-15 new employees with an average wage of around $45,000. The Town of Shipshewana approved abatement requests from the company and the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation for ten years on the real estate improvements and five years for the personal property. “Open Range RV is a valued employer in the Town of Shipshewana, and we are glad that we can continue to build on our partnership with Open Range as they expand their operations here,” said Roger Yoder, President of the Shipshewana Town Council.

“Open Range RV Company has been a great partner in Shipshewana and LaGrange County, and we’re elated that they have continued to grow within LaGrange County” said Keith Gillenwater, Executive Director of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation. “Their continued growth in our community is a tribute to the quality craftsmanship that Open Range RV exemplifies, and truly is a testament to Open Range’s motto: “Enjoy the Journey!” We look forward to continuing to work with Open Range RV Company.”

About the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation

The LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, established in 2009, is a 501(c) 3 corporation designed to assist business development needs. The LCEDC partners with local, regional, state, and federal agencies to attract, retain, and develop new businesses and entrepreneurs in LaGrange County and its communities. For more information about the LaGrange County EDC, please visit http://www.lagrangecountyedc.com or call at 260.499.4994

About Open Range RV Company

Open Range RV Company, based in Shipshewana, IN, is quickly becoming a leader in the production of high quality fifth wheels and travel trailers in just their third year of production. Open Range RV’s quality and craftsmanship was recognized with the coveted RVDA “Quality Circle Award” in 2009. For more information on Open Range RV, LLC, please visit http://www.openrangerv.com or at (260).768.7771.

Or if you feel like taking at look at Pennsylvania’s largest Open Range Dealer, visit Lerch RV.

Christmas seems to come faster every year. If you are like me, then you probably wait until the last minute to find gifts for your friends and loved ones. It can be hard trying to pick out that special present for those who mean so much to you. If you are looking for the perfect gift for the RV enthusiast that you know, you may not know what to get. There are many great gift ideas to make RVing easier and more fun for RV owners and passengers alike.

One of the things that you have to take into consideration when buying gifts for an RVer is space. RVs may have more room than other vehicles, but in terms of living space, being economical is key. One great gift for the avid reader would be an e-book such as a Kindle, Nook or maybe a new Kindle Fire. These devices will free up a lot of storage space currently being used up by books, many of which are read once and then never touched again. Less flashy things, like portable meal trays, are a great way to open up more room for someone who is living in an RV. One of the best gifts that you could give an RVer is the gift of more living space, so you may want to look for items that will take up little space or allow more space to be used.

Another great part of RVing is being outdoors. Making life better while at a campsite is a great way to make an RVer happy on Christmas morning. Outdoor furniture such as chairs, tables, and even outdoor recliners will make living outdoors a lot easier. Outdoor carpets/area rugs for under the awning are always a hot seller too. If you are looking to get a gift for the chef in the family, kitchen utensils and appliances are always a hit. Just look for items that will take up minimal space and open up possibilities in the kitchen.

There are many great products and possibilities out there for RV owners, so be sure to start your shopping now, because Christmas is just around the corner. Be sure to visit your Pennsylvania RV dealer for all your RV Christmas needs.

The air is starting to get colder, the temperature is dropping and you may find yourself shivering in your RV or trailer. Even if you have chosen to go to a warmer area for the season, there may still be nights that are a bit nippy. It seems the climate has been unsettling with temperature variations all over the nation. However the most effective way to keep the heat inside of your rig is to have high grade insulation installed throughout it. Unfortunately, that can be a costly solution that could also keep your RV in the shop for a long period of time. There are other great tricks and products you can use to keep the cold outside this winter.

One of the most important things that you can do is checking your RV seals for leaks. If you have cold air coming into your RV then it will always be cold and you could be running your furnace too hard for little effect. Check your roof, windows, and doors to make sure that there is no cold air getting into your RV. If you do find little leaks or holes, then be sure to use a silicone sealant of caulk to stop the problem. It is common for air to come in from under the door. There are products out there that are designed to slip onto your door and seal off the interior.

If you have a hardwood, tile, or linoleum floors, then you may want to purchase an area rug or loose carpeting. This will help keep cold air coming through the floor and it will also hold heat better. Be sure that you keep your blinds closed, and use your curtains if you have them. The cold temperature of the glass can start to take out the heat in your rig, leaving you feeling like an ice cube. Another great product to purchase is a roof vent pillow. This item is inserted to the RV roof vent and is usually made of foam or some other type of insulator. This keeps cool air from being conveyed through your closed roof vent.

If you plan on living in your RV this winter, then you should be sure that your RV is ready to handle the cold. No one wants to go camping with Jack Frost, so make sure you keep him at bay. For great winterizing service and solutions be sure to visit Lerch RV.

Hours & Info

About Lerch RV

We are PA's Largest Sprinter and Open Range RV Dealership. We have been helping families make camping memories for 36 years. Over those years we have grown to become one of the premiere RV dealerships in the Mid-Atlantic area. So come visit our Milroy,PA location and see what we have to offer.

Our high volume purchasing, low overhead allows us to offer low show prices everyday on a large selection of new RVs by Keystone RV Company and Open Range RV. Check out our extensive line up of new inventory of travel trailers and fifth wheels including Sprinter, Open Range, Passport, Outback, Summerland, Springdale, Alpine, Avalanche, Passport Elite, Copper Canyon and Fuzion toy haulers. Now carry a the Palomino RV line up of Puma, Puma Unleashed toy haulers, SolAire, and Palomini.

If you are looking for a pre-owned RV. Lerch RV has what you are looking for. From Pop-Up campers through Travel Trailers, from 15' trailers to 42' Fifth Wheels, check out our inventory of used campers.

Our low pressure, knowledgeable sales team will gladly help you choose the RV that will suit your needs. Remember that you are never charged for dealer prep of your new RV. Financing is available through our Finance Department, with terms and rates that will work for you.